Musk Etro Eau de Toilette

... is a quote from a James Bond film that I have (for some reason) remembered.

Actually, I was in the process of reducing my collection, which certainly has something to do with over a year of Corona. There are simply fewer opportunities to wear fragrances in a way that one can expect a reaction from others! ;-)

However, once you’re back into the topic, you quickly fall for it again ... at least I do! :-) I have always liked musk, but there are the refined and the animalistic versions of it. Here we clearly have the former. On the other hand, I acquired Narciso Rodriguez For Him as an EDP, composed by the great master Francis Kurkdjian. That one is almost a bit too animalistic for me (see my review). Perhaps musk as a main fragrance note is indeed difficult to handle for the "gentlemen"?

Etro Musk has clearly prevailed over Acca Kappa Muschio Bianco, which is significantly weaker. The packaging of Etro Musk is fantastic (though it only plays a minor role) and the bottles are at least classically cute. With the first spray, I remembered that I had also tested Lalique White and Armani White. The DNA here is quite similar: fresh, clean, fine, and summery, without drifting too much into the aquatic-citrus direction, which I also appreciate, but is already overrepresented in my collection.

As for the scent itself: I don’t think anyone who showers daily could find fault with it! ;-) Sure, those annoying shower gel comparisons might come up again, but unlike toilet bowl cleaners or glass cleaners, shower gel is meant for the skin (!) So, it’s more of a compliment to the shower gel if it smells like an EDT than a mark of shame for the perfume, right?! ;-) I can understand this comparison to a certain extent when the sillage is only close to the skin, but the longevity is quite acceptable.

The close-to-skin sillage is also the case with Etro Musk, which one should be aware of. A few more sprays hardly change that. Aside from that, you acquire a gender-neutral summer scent about which I can say nothing bad. I have the feeling it performs even better on clothing than on skin. The sandalwood that appears in the heart and base notes certainly gives the fragrance a certain warmth, but is only perceptible in traces on its own.

Around 60 euros for 50 ml seems reasonable only for freshness fans who want to avoid aquatic synthetics and who find a "hint of pleasantly refreshing purity" sufficient as a scent. Let’s conclude by saying that this is more of a cologne that never stings the nose and that no one will ever wrinkle their nose at.